MANY people are seeking to find their right place or, to put it another way, their right work—work which not only provides supply for daily human needs but is purposeful, useful, and satisfying. Christian Science teaches that each one of us, regardless of the human circumstances in which he may seem to be involved, has his own right place to fill. Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Each individual must fill his own niche in time and eternity" (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 70).
The teachings of Christian Science help the student to find his right place just as they help him to solve his other problems. Each one learns that his right place as Mind's idea is already established in divine Mind and that Mind places each idea in complete harmony and unity with all other ideas.
As the student works to prove this spiritual fact and see it evidenced in his human experience, he learns that he does not necessarily have to change his geographical location or go from one position to another in order to be happy. He can start right where he is to express the spiritual qualities which the man of God's creating eternally reflects. The showing forth of these qualities may transform his present place to the point where it will provide ample opportunities for his abilities and talents; or his progressive work may lead him, in a logical and harmonious way, to another position or another activity.
Because he always knew that he was about his Father's business, Christ Jesus was always in his right place. In our experience, if we are always about our Father's business, we too can prove that we are always in our right place. This does not mean that a discordant, unrewarding human job, in which we are not using the capacities, talents, and qualifications which are individually ours, is our right place. It does mean that right where we are we can begin to acknowledge, claim, and put into use the qualities of man as the reflection, the image and likeness, of God.
A question which comes to most of us at one time or another is, What is my right work? In the Bible we read (Eph. 4: 11), "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." Each individual has his own work to do in demonstrating God's plan for man.
The student of Christian Science is alert to see to it that he does well the specific work of any position he accepts. In the Manual of The Mother Church, Mrs. Eddy makes several references to the necessity of faithful performance of the duties of church offices by those who occupy them. Since the student endeavors to be guided by the Manual in all his affairs, he will follow this rule in any position he holds. He can do this with increasing success as he realizes that since he is in reality the image and likeness of God, he has the necessary qualifications for the task.
Some of the qualities generally required and valued in any work are intelligence, wisdom, understanding, discernment, logic, insight, intuition, freshness, originality, dependability, and sincerity. Each one can begin at once to express these in the specific position he holds. As he progresses in his work of expressing God, he will see with increasing clarity that although he seems to work for person or persons, he directs his thoughts primarily to Principle and thus frees himself from the fear that he may not please his employer, his clients, customers, or associates. The result will be that by being steadfast in working for Principle, he will gain the approval of those he works for and with, and his work will become better and more helpful.
Knowing that his ability, talents, and qualifications do not derive from a personal mind but are the reflections of the divine Mind, the student will be released from the fear that he will not have the ideas he needs or the ability to utilize them. As he accepts and claims infinite Mind as his Mind, he will cease to limit himself. This will make it possible for him to accomplish his work more easily, and with less fatigue, than would be the case if he depended upon limited, finite capacity.
At one time the writer was in a position which seemed most unsatisfactory. The salary was inadequate, the surroundings were unpleasant, and the activity was not of a type which she felt was right for her. It was at a time of considerable unemployment, and she was grateful to have a job; but she spent most of her spare time trying to get a better one.
Finally she felt she had taken every human step she could. She stopped all her searching for another position and began to acknowledge the truth that her real place was already established in Mind.
She resolved to live one day at a time. She tried sincerely to walk in God's way all through the day and to express Him in every activity, giving to each task her best abilities. Although the situation did not improve, she began to feel great peace, and she left her office each evening refreshed and with a sense of well-being.
After a month or so had passed, she was offered a position in an organization she had not known existed. The company had been told about her by someone in another city who knew something of her background. She took the position, and it proved to be exactly right in every way, affording her opportunities she could not have outlined humanly.
As one brings his human activity into line with the teachings of Christian Science, he will find unlimited opportunity for progress, for, as we are told by our Leader in Science and Health (p. 258), "God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis."
